Letter: Firearm dealer’s advertising offensive

Palmetto State Armory recently released a statement in support of the Second Amendment. It included this sentence: “It is our hope that we can approach this negativity with humanity and both sides of the argument can come together and have a civil and intellectual conversation that continues to make this amazing country better.”

I commend them for encouraging civil and intellectual discourse, however their business has a long history of promoting anything but. Palmetto State Armory has in its past sold AR-15 lower units with the words “You Lie!” inscribed across them -- a line made famous when it was shouted at President Obama by congressman Joe Wilson. Mr. Wilson’s son also happens to be a part owner of Palmetto State Armory.

How does this tacky and offensive marketing encourage both sides in civil and intellectual discourse?

This is not Palmetto State Armory’s only foray into offensive marketing. Every Christmas, the people of this state are subjected to billboards that appropriate Christianity to sell guns. Perhaps the most disgraceful of these reads “Silent Night” with the picture of a pistol and an attached silencer. These adds are shameful. Christianity is a faith of peace, love, and forgiveness. It has no place in gun marketing. It is their right (for now) to sell the weapons that line their shelves. But the discord that they allow to fester is ripping this community apart. I commend to the owners of Palmetto State Armory the Sermon on the Mount. I challenge them, if you truly want to encourage healthy discussions, stop promotions that sew political hate and division. And for God’s sake, never put those Christmas billboards up again.